Great St. Bernard pass

In the final bends above Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, the last Aosta Valley municipality before the border, the road leaves the valley meadows and enters a hollow of pale rocks. The small lake, some stone buildings, and the large Hospice of the Great St. Bernard Pass, the religious house that has welcomed those crossing the pass for centuries, appear a short distance from each other. 2472m asl, the Great St Bernard Pass is at once an Alpine pass, a border and a place worth dedicating several hours to.

The scenic road leads into a valley where you can cross from Italy to Switzerland on foot, passing by the lake, the remains of the Roman road on the Aosta Valley side, and the church and hospice museum on the Swiss side. In summer, when conditions permit, St. Bernard dogs bred by the Barry Foundation, the Swiss foundation that cares for this breed, also arrive. Almost everything depends on the season, so check road, bus, and opening times before setting off.

Between Italy and Switzerland

The hill opens into the Pennine Alps, the sector of the Western Alps between the Aosta Valley and the Canton of Valais, in southwestern Switzerland. On the Italian side, it ascends the Great St. Bernard Valley, the valley that begins in Aosta, the regional capital, and leads to Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses; beyond the pass, the road descends into the Val d'Entremont, the Valais valley that passes through Bourg-Saint-Pierre, a Swiss municipality in the hospice area, and reaches Orsières, a town connected to the Valais railway network.

Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses lies below the pass, on the Aosta Valley side: it's the reference town for the Italian climb, distinct from the buildings and bus stops located at higher altitudes. For accommodation, a bus, or road conditions, you'll need to find the exact location, as the services in the town and those in the valley don't match.

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The border line crosses the Great St. Bernard Lake, the small body of water in the basin, and continues between the buildings. The passage from one state to the other is discreet, and for this very reason it is advisable to carry a valid document for travel abroadThe Hospice and its museum are in Switzerland; the Italian arrival road, the archaeological area, and the Albergo Italia, a seasonal accommodation overlooking the valley, are on the Aosta Valley side.

Glue and fretwork

The pass road and the Great St. Bernard Tunnel both lead to Switzerland along different routes. The former ascends in the open air to the pass, passes through the landscape you're visiting, and closes during the long snowy season. The tunnel, a toll tunnel with lower entrances, opened to traffic in 1964 and has its own traffic bulletin and fares.

If you set only the Gran San Bernardo pass on your navigation system, you risk being directed to the tunnel entrance instead of the panoramic road. To reach the lake and the hospice, you need to select the Great St. Bernard passCheck that the high road is passable and follow the signs for the pass. If it's closed, the toll road through the tunnel to Switzerland remains, but the summit basin is not accessible from there.

During the summer the situation of the two routes can change independently: the official page of the Great St. Bernard pass It provides seasonal information for the high road, while the tunnel's status, restrictions, and fares should be checked with the operator.

How to Get There

By bus from Aosta

Aosta is the most convenient starting point for a car-free ascent from the Italian side. 422 is coming It runs along the Great St. Bernard Valley, and during the summer season, some routes are extended to the pass. Dates, stops, and frequencies change throughout the year; consult the website before planning your day.current timetable for line 422, paying particular attention to the return journey.

From the window, you can calmly watch the passage from the valley villages to the final hairpin bends, without having to search for a seat at altitude. However, the service up to the pass remains seasonal; when a ride ends in Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, the ascent to the valley must be arranged separately.

By bus from Orsières

On the Swiss side the line TMR/Mont-Bus 12.210 It starts from Orsières, goes up through Bourg-Saint-Pierre and, when the summer service is active, reaches the Ospizio stop.official timetable of line 12.210 you can check the calendar and connections for the chosen date.

Arriving from one side and departing from the other may seem simple from a map, but it requires compatible connections between two networks and two countries. For a leisurely visit, it's wiser to plan a return journey on the same side, or to plan the entire journey between the two sides in advance.

By car:

From the Aosta Valley side, follow the SS27, the state road that leads from Aosta up the Great St. Bernard Valley. Above Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses, the road leading to the tunnel splits from the road that continues in the open towards the pass, so at the fork, follow the signs for the pass. Before starting the final climb, it's a good idea to check the opening times, weather conditions, and any closures or restrictions.

On the Swiss side, the climb begins in Bourg-Saint-Pierre and follows the Val d'Entremont to the col basin. Curves, gradients, and conditions can change rapidly with rain, fog, or residual snow; campers, motorcycles, and bicycles require careful consideration of the route and the day's conditions.

The lake and the border

The rocky shores of the Great St. Bernard Lake They can be reached in just a few minutes from the buildings and offer the most immediate way to get a feel for the place: the Hospice dominates the Swiss side, while the Italian road runs alongside the structures on the Aosta Valley side. Walking along the waterfront, you pass from one country to the other almost without realizing it.

To navigate the lake, buildings, and archaeological remains, you'll still need footwear suitable for mountain terrain. Uneven terrain, wet terrain, and snow lingering on the edges can occur even when the road is already open, and the wind often makes the time spent outside cooler. Those traveling with small children or those with specific mobility needs should assess the prevailing conditions, not rely solely on proximity.

Between the lakeside stroll, the Hospice, and the museum, a quick stop is rarely enough. The church and collections require a different pace than a stroll, and are especially enjoyable when clouds cover the mountains or the wind makes it uncomfortable to stop on the shore.

The Hospice

L'Hospice of the Great Saint Bernard It stands on the Swiss side and is a religious house, as well as one of the historical landmarks of the Alpine crossing. It was founded around 1050 to offer shelter and assistance to pilgrims and wayfarers, in a place where bad weather could make travel dangerous. Its hospitality continues today: the rooms belong to a vibrant community and are visited respecting their times and activities.

Inside are the church, the treasury, and the museum, which houses archaeological finds, objects related to the Hospice's history, and testimonies to the high-altitude environment. Opening hours and visiting hours vary throughout the year and should be checked on the Hospice's website, along with accommodation information. Adjacent to the religious house, the Auberge de l'Hospice operates during the summer, a hotel separate from the community accommodations and with its own booking conditions.

St. Bernard Museum and Dogs

The dogs named after the pass have been linked to the Hospice since the second half of the 17th century, when the first documented evidence of their presence appears. The history of the breed at the Great St. Bernard therefore begins many centuries after the Romans passed through.

Today the breeding is entrusted to the Barry Foundation, which brings some St. Bernards to the hill during the summer. The presence of the dogs, access to the kennel, and the associated museum visit depend on the road's opening hours and the calendar published by the foundation. Those traveling with children and expecting to meet them should check the schedule before the climb.

The Plan de Jupiter

Il Plan de Jupiter It is the archaeological plateau on the Aosta Valley side, near the last bends of the Italian road. In Roman times, the pass was called Summus Poeninus, a Latin name linked to the Pennine Alps, and was a passageway between the two sides. The rock still preserves a section of the ancient roadway, while the foundations of the buildings that supported the passage emerge on the plateau.

Among the structures recognized by archaeologists were two mansions, Roman stations with rest areas and shelter for travelers, and a small place of worship dedicated to Jupiter Penninus, the deity associated with the pass. Of the buildings, the foundations are mostly visible, right next to the current road and along the same corridor used to cross the Alps.

Merchants, soldiers, and travelers sought a passage through the Alps here; in the Middle Ages, the Hospice provided a permanent home for those tackling the mountains. Since 1964, the tunnel has offered a lower crossing, while the seasonal road continues to reach the historic sites of the valley.

The Via Francigena

La Via Francigena It is the historic pilgrimage route that enters the Aosta Valley from the Great St. Bernard Pass and continues towards Rome. Echevennoz, the destination of the first downhill stage in the Aosta Valley, is a hamlet of Etroubles, a village in the Great St. Bernard Valley located below the pass.

The Aosta Valley leg of the Via Francigena from the Great St. Bernard Pass to Echevennoz is 14,9 km long, and the official route indicates a 3-hour and 55-minute downhill walk. one-way linear, for which it is necessary to organize the return or an overnight stay in the valley; Colle-Echevennoz official profile collects updated track and directions.

Road and trail conditions may vary: residual snow, water, and roadworks affect the trail independently of the road surface, so passability should be checked before your departure date. The other trails leading to the peaks and passes around the basin are separate excursions and require specific planning.

When to go

The hill road is normally passable during the summer season, and LoveVDA recommends the period between mid-June and mid-October as a rough guide. Actual opening times depend on snow clearance, weather, and any closures on either side; at the beginning and end of the season, check before setting off. Bus routes, the museum, the kennel, and accommodations also have their own schedules.

Even in the height of summer, a mild day in the valley can give way to wind, clouds, and much lower temperatures on the pass. Therefore, a warm layer and a waterproof jacket are useful in your backpack, along with footwear suitable for the sections on rock and natural terrain. A valid travel document completes your preparation, especially if you're visiting the Hospice or descending to the Swiss side.

When the weather is stable, the basin offers a variety of walks, historical visits, and lakeside stops, without accumulating many hours of driving. In uncertain weather, it's a good idea to check the actual open spaces first and leave some time for the return journey: fog and changes in traffic can slow down what seems like a simple day on paper.

Where to sleep

Spending the night at high altitude gives you more time to enjoy the lake and its buildings, allowing you to start the morning in the valley. On the Swiss side, you can stay at the Hospice or book the Auberge de l'Hospice during its season; on the Aosta Valley side, the Albergo Italia is the closest option to the arrival road. These accommodations vary in character and service, so contact them directly for opening hours, availability, and terms.

Those who prefer to sleep lower down can choose Saint-Rhémy-en-Bosses and Etroubles on the Italian side, with access to the SS27 and the valley's bus routes. Bourg-Saint-Pierre is the closest base on the Swiss side, while Orsières offers more connections to the rest of the Valais. The best choice depends on which side of the valley you're arriving from and your plans for the following day, especially when using seasonal buses.

For a longer Aosta Valley tour, the pass is a good option with a stop in Aosta or the towns in its valley. Those continuing towards Mont Blanc can also stop in Courmayeur, a location at the foot of the massif on the western valley floor, organizing it as a separate stage from the visit to the Great St. Bernard.